I Became the Dark Knight in the Game - Chapter 89: The Trial (1)

The knight commander declared,

“There are no restrictions on the means. You are free to unite with like-minded comrades or to forge ahead on your own strength. Draw upon every ounce of your wisdom and power and give it your all. That is all.”

The knight commander gave a brief nod and then quickly strode away.

His attitude meant that he had no interest in entertaining further questions.

Dale pondered,

So this was the important announcement they had hinted at.

Indeed, it was an event capable of shaking the very foundations of the city.

The creation of a new imperial guard order, with its commander to be chosen through this trial.

Are they sure they’re going to keep their word about not looking at one’s birth and status?

The notion that both commoners and mercenaries, not just the nobles, were given a chance was remarkable in an empire where the social hierarchy had been rigid for over a thousand years.

However, it wasn’t entirely about equality.

They gave us some advantage by providing information beforehand.

Rumors had quietly circulated about the formation of the imperial guard, but the details of the trial were announced for the first time today, right here.

Given the nature of the trial as a race against time, getting even a slight head start by acquiring information was a big advantage.

It allowed for more time to prepare and make your strategy.

In fact, others were already swiftly taking action.

The knights who were close friends were gathered together to devise plans, and the mercenaries who had completely sobered up were also having a heated discussion.

Some were quick to try and leave the banquet hall but the Marquis called out,

“As you all know, the sun has already set outside. Please stay in the mansion until sunrise. If you wish, I can provide rooms for you to spend the night.”

They had to stay in the Marquis’s mansion until the sun rose.

Did he delay the announcement intentionally to keep us here?

Had they not been detained, the more impulsive ones might have dashed off to the northwest without any preparation.

It seemed they wanted to avoid having anyone fall behind in such a manner.

Or perhaps it’s a message to encourage more collaboration.

While those with existing connections were already forming groups, there were also those of relatively lesser influence.

Those with lesser influence were using this time to discuss forming alliances among themselves.

People wracked their brains and scurried about. They were fiercely competing for even the slightest edge in the trial.

But amidst the bustling atmosphere, Dale remained calm and composed.

To be honest, Dale had little interest in positions like the commander of the imperial guard.

He simply stood idly by until the sun rose.

The mercenaries approached him from time to time and asked if he would join them but Dale consistently refused.

After several rejections, no one approached Dale anymore.

Everyone else was too blinded by ambition, busily moving about.

Dale watched them from a quiet corner of the banquet hall.

Then, someone spoke to him.

“You don’t seem to be much interested, do you?”

Turning, Dale found himself facing the commander of the knights and his disciple.

Dale nodded his head in acknowledgment.

“I have no intention of joining the imperial guard, not even interested in the commander position.”

“That’s a shame.”

The knight commander who said that looked at Dale thoughtfully.

Dale inquired,

“Do you have something to say?”

“I’ll make a guess at your thoughts now. You’re wondering why they chose to conduct the trial in such a manner, aren’t you?”

“…Right.”

Dale nodded his head in agreement.

“This method seems like it would lead to a fair amount of bloodshed, doesn’t it?”

The knight commander offered an inscrutable smile and responded,

“The upper districts are in need of fresh winds.”

“…..?”

“I’ll take my leave now. Do come find me sometime. We should cross swords.”

With those words, the knight commander departed with light steps.

His disciple followed closely behind. She cast a fleeting glance at Dale before continuing on.

***

As the sun rose, the attendees of the banquet quickly dispersed.

Before the day was out, the city would likely be abuzz with talk of the day’s events.

While everyone else hurried off, Dale moved at a leisurely pace.

The coachman who had brought him was already waiting.

“Ah, I’ve been waiting for you. But everyone else seemed to hurry off; is something the matter?”

Dale responded as he boarded the carriage.

“It seems everyone has urgent appointments.”

“Is that so?”

Dale closed the carriage door, and the coachman began to drive the carriage slowly.

The coachman asked.

“Shall I take you to the inn?”

After a moment of thought, Dale replied.

“To the Mercenary Guild.”

“Are you referring to the guild headquarters in District 3, or the Mercenary Guild in District 7?”

“District 3.”

“Yes, I’ll ensure a comfortable journey.”

Dale had no interest in leading positions. He had no intention of actively seeking out and taking the trial.

But Dale had a rough idea of how things would go.

The nobles will start throwing around their money.

Considering the purpose of the trial, it would be proper to solve problems with their own power and abilities.

But the world doesn’t operate on such pure principles.

Nobles hungry for power will participate in large numbers, and these nobles will stop at nothing to achieve their ends.

And the nobles had a clear destination for their wealth.

Mercenaries.

In many ways, this is a test of strength. So the demand and thereby the price for skilled mercenaries were bound to skyrocket.

However, mercenaries of a certain caliber were likely already affiliated with one noble house or another.

The need for strength was dire, yet the availability of capable mercenaries to hire was expected to be scarce.

In this scenario, Dale’s value was extraordinary.

He had proven his capabilities and, importantly, had no particular ties to any noble family.

The more level-headed nobles would by now have realized just how valuable an asset Dale was.

And they would be rushing to him, money in hand.

If he waited, Dale would find himself overwhelmed with lucrative offers.

He simply had to choose the most suitable one, not as a participant in the trial, but as a mercenary looking to profit.

This is going to be chaotic.

The situation was ripe for conflict.

Such conflicts were opportunities for Dale’s growth, and there was no reason for him to decline them.

As he organized his thoughts, he arrived at the mercenary guild.

Surprisingly, the guild was quieter than usual, perhaps the news hadn’t reached them yet.

It was the calm before the storm.

Dale approached an employee and asked if Garland was around, and the employee personally led him to Garland.

Garland welcomed Dale warmly.

“What brings you here, Sir Dale? Weren’t you supposed to be at the medal award ceremony today?”

“The ceremony has concluded.”

“I’m just asking out of curiosity, but there were no issues, right?”

Dale hesitated for a moment.

It wasn’t accurate to say there were no problems…

“It’s been resolved.”

“Why the hesitation… Anyway, I understand. So, what brings you here?”

Dale explained about the announcement made at the ceremony.

About the test to select the imperial guards and their commander. Garland furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

“Hmm. It seems another troublesome matter has happened.”

“When I asked the commander why he chose this method, he said fresh winds were needed. Do you understand what he means?”

After a brief contemplation, Garland spoke.

“The upper districts are pleasant places to live. They are much safer compared to the outside, and the facilities are well maintained. However, the space is limited. Not everyone can live in the upper districts. One must possess the necessary capabilities.”

Dale thought about Eirek.

Eirek was a noble from the Kingdom of Vyman and he had established himself in the slums. He said that to live in the upper districts, one must prove their “worth”.

Garland continued to explain.

“When Irene was first founded and His Majesty declared that the incompetent nobles would not be allowed in the upper districts, it caused great turmoil. The nobles strongly opposed it, and it was only after a storm of conflict that the situation was stabilized. Nevertheless, His Majesty achieved his aim. Only the capable nobles remained in the upper districts. Decades have passed since then. Do you have any guess what the problem is now?”

Dale closed his eyes, pondered over Garland’s explanation, and then easily said,

“The children have become the problem.”

Garland’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected such a quick response to his probing question.

“You are really sharp. Correct. There’s no guarantee that children born to capable parents will be capable themselves.”

Titles are typically passed down to only one of the offspring.

Other children who could not obtain a title had to make merit and prove their worth in order to remain in the upper districts.

Every knight in the upper districts is obsessed with honor and achievements and it wasn’t without reason that they wanted to join the imperial knights.

Dale remembered a knight who had recently received a medal and started crying.

There must have been a reason for that.

Opportunities for nobles’ offspring to distinguish themselves were limited.

The easiest place to gain merit is certainly the front lines, but…

“What parent would wish to send their child to the front lines? And which parent would want to cast their child out? Recently, there’s been an increase in nobles who find mediocre positions for their incompetent children to somehow keep them in the upper districts. When the incompetent take up space, there’s less room for the capable.”

“It’s the beginning of corruption.”

“That’s right.”

Dale thought of the countless nobles laughing and chatting and reveling in the banquet hall.

The number of nobles was increasing again, and the upper districts were becoming corrupt.

The Emperor was displeased with this.

But to decisively expel the nobles’ offspring would undoubtedly meet significant resistance.

The nobles have been accumulating power for decades since the city was founded.

It’s possible that a greater chaos than the turmoil at the founding of Irene could unfold.

“So, they deliberately created a breathing space. If one enters the imperial guards, at least they won’t be driven out of the upper districts.”

“Yes. Moreover, this move could also weaken the nobles’ power. As the competition among the nobles intensifies, so will the losses. Of course, if the bleeding becomes too severe, the imperial family will intervene appropriately.”

Dale recalled the Marquis’s words.

Did he say that the trial will depend on one’s ability, regardless of status or birth?

Despite the polished words, this situation was likely to escalate into a competition among the nobles.

Mercenaries were merely a side note.

Garland spoke up.

“Moreover, the turmoil in the northwest is more serious than we thought. It hasn’t been long since the unrest started, but the damage is spiraling out of control. It’s a problem that needs urgent resolution.”

“The Emperor seems to be a man of great ambition. It’s intriguing how many benefits he’s trying to secure at once.”

Garland smiled bitterly.

“That must be why he’s been able to hold the empire against demons, isn’t it?”

Dale nodded his head in agreement.

It was an undeniable fact that the Emperor had been successfully waging war against demons for decades now.

He was not a figure to be taken lightly.

I do want to see him at least once.

Given that the Emperor was a character hard to encounter even back in the actual game, it was only natural for Dale to be curious.

However, the immediate concern wasn’t the Emperor.

Garland asked.

“Will you be joining as well, Sir Dale?”

“I’m thinking of joining as a mercenary. It seems a shame to let such an opportunity pass by.”

“Haha, such keen insight, not missing the main chance. Sir Dale, you’ve truly become a mercenary. May I offer a piece of advice on how to increase your bounty?”

Dale responded.

“I’d appreciate that.”

“It’s nothing major. There’s a limit to how much money one can earn as an individual. So,”

“So?”

“Form a party. You’ll likely earn more that way than by accepting the request alone.”

“A party…”

He immediately thought of a few people.

Dale stood up.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

“You might want to hurry. The nobles are likely getting impatient by now.”

That day, dozens of carriages left the gates of Irene and headed northwest.

They were an eager vanguard, deciding to make haste.

The next morning, the mercenary guild was abuzz with servants of nobles who had come to hire mercenaries.

They were all demanding and speaking to the guild staff in frustration.

“Where is Sir Dale? Where can we find Sir Dale?”

“Please, we beg of you, connect us with Sir Dale!”

They were all looking for Dale.